Billet handling apparatus



Aug. 11, 1964 Filed Aug. 9, 1961 R.A.CHAPELUER BILLET HANDLNG APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet l Colwyn; Hwa

Aug- 11, 1964 R. A. CHAPELLIER 3,144,139

BILLET HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 9, 1961 5 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Allg- 11, 1964 R. A. CHAPELLIER 3,144,139

BILLET HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 9, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

@ogfr CAM/maus? BY United States Patent O 3,144,139 BILLET HANDLING APPARATUS Robert A. Chapellier, Whitestone, N.Y., assignor to Burns lrgand Roe, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New ersey Filed Aug. 9, 1961, Ser. No. 130,436 15 Claims. (Cl. 214-1) This invention relates to apparatus for handling elongate rods, bars or the like, and more particularly, to such apparatus for acting upon a bundle of random arranged billets to unravel or unscramble and separate the billets for presentation individually at an inspection station, for example,

I-Ieretofore, it has been proposed to utilize sets of stationary skids or rails with adjacent sets of movable skids or rails, the latter being driven in an eccentric path so as to be at times above and at times below the level of the stationary members while having a lateral translation relatively thereto so as to walk billets or the like extended thereacross in one direction longitudinally of the skids. Both the stationary and movable members were formed with step-like drops to topple billets on the high end towards the low end as a result of the walking action. Meanwhile an operator could control rotation in either direction of a cross-shaft having fingers thereon that could be positioned ahead of the billets to square up a bundle or between billets to separate them. The movable skids could be reversed when desired to straighten billets out by walking them backwards against the step behind them.

Apparatus of this type proved inelective, slow and dangerous to workmen, and other apparatus were subsequently proposed. For example, the billets were dropped from one to another of a series of drums positioned at successively lower levels and driven at successively slower speeds. It has also been proposed to utilize pairs of adjacent stepped skids for supporting the billets transversely thereof and then cascading the billets down the steps by a slow forward and quick return motion imparted to one pair `of skids relatively to its adjacent pair, with succeeding pairs of skids imparting progressively slower speed to the articles as they advance towards the delivery end of the apparatus.

Additionally, investigations have been conducted into the use of vibrators, bumpers, hoppers and various forms of walking beams, all of which, along with the foregoing proposed apparatus have proved to be inadequate primarily because of the large degree of camber in the billets. This camber may be of the order of 18 inches in billets as long as 32 feet, for example; and excessive handling of a bundle of billets having any appreciable camber by some of the aforementioned apparatus actually aggravates the scrambled or ravelled condition of the bundle. It will also be appreciated that camber in the billets presents a further ditlculty in that a severe camber may very well cause a billet to whip if, during handling, one end thereof becomes free while the other remains under restraint.

I have conceived by my invention, an effective solution to the problems presented, whereby I contribute a machine utilizing a multiple combing principle providing positive bundle splitting and which, within several sequential combing operations, affords single billet feed from a bundle of the order of sixty billets, or more.

In essence, my invention resides in the utilization of spaced, horizontal support means for supporting thereacross billets to be handled, and means piercing a bundle f billets supported on the support means to split the bundle into smaller bundles. Means are also provided for transporting the smaller bundles in a direction parallel to the length of the support means. Additionally, the smaller bundles are similarly repeatedly split progressively Patented Aug. 11., 1964 into yet smaller bundles to separate the bundled billets ultimately into single billets for presentation individually at an inspection station, a treating :furnace or the like. Thus, the combing operation may be repeated as often as necessary. In this connection, I prefer to repeat this operation live to seven times since the maximum number of billets in a bundle is usually of the order of sixty, so that the original bundle will be split into halves, quarters etc., until an initial bundle is separated into single billets in six operations.

The support means may actually comprise a pair of parallel rails spaced to support the billets adjacent their ends, and an important feature of the invention resides in the provision of a series of combing means positioned between the rails and spaced longitudinally from one another in the direction of the rail lengths, the combing means each comprising a pair of comb arms for splitting a bundle of billets positioned across the rails by a combing action. Preferably the bundle is split at a medial zone thereof and the comb arms then moved towards respective bundle supporting rails to extend the gap or split in the bundle until the bundle is effectively divided into two smaller bundles.

As a further feature of the invention, I provide stop means adjacent the rails and preferably movable vertically in timed relation to the action of the combing means to embrace the bundle being combed adjacent its ends, thereby to prevent whipping of individual billets in the bundle, and to assist in effecting parallel billet alignment. These stop means may comprise pairs of elongate members spaced along the rails and reciprocable vertically between positions above and below the level of the billets. Additionally, these stop means may be used. for insertion between the smaller bundles formed by the combing action, whereupon the smaller bundles are effectively retained in separated disposition after withdrawal of the combing means from between the bundles.

Another aspect of the invention contemplates provision of transport means for advancing the billets along the rails. These transport means may comprise horizontal beams positioned adjacent the rails and movable between positions below and above the level of the rails and also laterally thereof. Thus, an upward and forward movement of the beams lifts and advances the billets relatively to the rails and downward and rearward movement of the beams deposits the billets again on the rails and completes the cycle. The vertical speed of these beams is adjustable so that they may be utilized to jog or jounce the billets while lifting them from the rails for movement therealong,

Another feature of the invention resides in the utilization of pusher plates operable to engage and square the ends of the billets at various stages of their handling. Actually, I prefer that there be no contact with the billet ends during the combing operation so that I bring the pusher plates into squaring engagement with the billet ends prior to and after each combing operation.

In order to enable -the present apparatus to handle billets of various lengths, the rails, although locked in position during operation of the apparatus, are movable laterally towards and away from one another during setting up of the apparatus, and the comb arms are mounted on carriers which `afford the shifting movement of the arms to split the bundles. The actuating mechanism for the carriers is preferably also utilized as the power source for moving the rails laterally for various bundle lengths. Thus, the carriers may be positioned for movement between .the rails which `are normally locked in position, and hydraulic or pneumatic rams, for example, may extend between the carriers and the rails for effecting movement of the carriers laterally ofthe rails. To shift the rails, it is merely necessary to unlock the rails, thereby freeing 3 them for lateral movement and with the carriers centered therebetween, to operate the rams to adjust the rails as de sired between minimum and maximum spaced apart position according to the length of the bundles t-o be handled.

There has thus been outlined rather broadly the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, :and in order .that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures -for carrying out the several purposes of the invention. It is impor-tant, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions as do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.

A specic embodiment of the invention has been chosen 'for purposes of illustration and description, and is shown inthe accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, wherein:

FIG. l is a top plan view, partly broken away, of billet'handling apparatus according -to the present invention and illustrating in phantom lines a bundle of billets to be handled;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational View of the apparatus of FIG. l illustrating a pair of combing means at a medial zone of the billets, one of which is represented in phantom lines;

FIG. 3 is a View similar to FIG. 2 but showing the combing means as they approach the supporting rails;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary end elevational view illustrating the delivery end of the apparatus; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged end elevational view of adjustable rail mounting means.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a bundle 10 of billets positioned relatively to the apparatus for handling thereby to reduce the bundle down to individual billets.

The apparatus includes a plurality of parallel, spaced apart guide beams 11 and two banks of billet manipulating assemblies indicated generally by the reference numeral 12 mounted perpendicularly to the beams 11 and movable along the beams towards and away from the ends thereof in a manner and for a purpose to be later described. These assemblies may be locked against movement in any desired position along the beams 11 by suitable means not here shown. It is suicient for the present to realize that each bank of manipulating assemblies 12 includes an elongate rail 14 on the inboard side of its respective assembly and extending the length thereof for supporting the billets 1t) thereacross adjacent the billet ends.

Each of the beams 11 also mounts a pair of carriers 15 that are movable therealong as by pneumatic rams which may be positioned within the rails 11 and have their cylinders secured to the carriers and the remote ends of their piston rods -secured to the assemblies 12, or vice versa. In any case, it will be appreciated that, with the assemblies 12 locked in position against movement along the beams 11, extension of the rams will move the carriers 15 away from their closest assembly 12 and towards one another while retraction of the rams will have the reverse effect.

Turning now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the assemblies 12 are `shown positioned relatively to the beams 11 `so that the rails 14 support billets 10 represented in phantom lines.

As has already been stated, comb arms are mounted on the carriers 15 which afford shifting movement of the arms to split a bundle of billets. Thus, the carriers 15 carry comb arms 16 which comprise shank portions 17 and enlarged end portions 19. It will be seen that I have mounted each comb arm by its shank on a carrier 15 for pivotal movement relatively to its respectively carrier about horizontal pivots 2d. The comb arms of a pair of carriers are Iso disposed in the solid line positions of FIG. 2 that when the carriers 15 are in adjacent position medially of the assemblies 12, the enlarged portions of the arms normally overlap one another horizontally. Each carrier 15 is equipped with a pneumatic ram 21 the cylinder of which is pivoted to the carrier while the piston rod is pivoted to the -shank of its respective comb arm. Referring again to FIG. l, it will be seen that the enlarged portions of the arms are relatively thinner than the shanks and, when in the retracted positions of the rams 21, are disposed in close side by side relation.

Uponl protraction of the rams 21, the comb arms pivot about the axes 2i) to the positions shown in phantom lines in FIG. 2, and in this connection, it is preferred that these arms are so related and dimensioned that their overlapping relationship be maintained, as they are swung to the exended position of the rams, until they have reached a level above the level of the billets. It will be understood that once the arms have reached the position corresponding to the fully extended position of the rams a bundle of billets extending between the rails 14 and above the arms will have been split by the upward movement of the arms. Movement of the carriers 15 away from one another, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 3, and towards the assemblies 12 will continue the splitting action outwardly, etfectively combing the initial bundle into two separate smaller bundles.

As I have stated earlier, I provide stop means adjacent the rails to prevent whipping of individual billets in the bundle and to assist in effecting parallel billet alignment. Thus, stop members are indicated by the reference numeral 22 and, as shown in FIG. l, are disposed in alignment with beams 11. In FIGS. 2 and 3, the stop means are shown in their lowermost position in solid lines and in operating or uppermost position in phantom lines. The movement of each of the stop members 22 between its extreme positions is controlled by rams 24 mounted on the assemblies 12 for that purpose, These stop members 22 may be automatically operable in timed relation to the action of the combing means or they may be under the control of an operator for movement to and from operating position as he deems necessary.

As best shown in FIGS. l, 4 and 5, each of the assemblies 12 includes transport means 25 which comprise a series of panels 26 having horizontal surfaces positioned adjacent the rails 14 and movable, as by the action of vertically disposed rams 27, connected to the frame of the respective assemblies 12 for pivotal movement about horizontal, transverse aXes 29, and a horizontally disposed ram 30 positioned at one end of each of the assemblies 12 and connected by links 31 to the cylinders of the vertical rams 27. Thus, an upward and downward movement is imparted to the beams 26 by the vertical rams 27 and a forward and rearward motion is imparted to them by the horizontal rams 30. Since the vertical and horizontal movement of the beams is thus under the control of separate rams, the relationship of these movements may be arranged as desired, and it is preferred that cycle be as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 4, i.e., upwardly, forwardly and then back to the starting point. It will be noted that the beams 25 are moved between positions below and above the level of the rails 14 so as to engage and lift the billets from the rails 14, advance them longitudinally of the rails, place them back upon the rails and return to the starting point to repeat the advancing operation. If desired, the upward movement of the panels 26 may be sharp enough to impart a jounce or jog to the billets to aid in bundle leveling and to reduce combing resistance. Actually, the speed of vertical motion imparted by the rams 27 need not be related to the cycle frequency.

It will be recalled that one of the features of the invention contemplates the provision of pusher plates operable to engage and square the ends of the billets at various stages of their handling. Thus, in FIG. l, it will be seen that each of the assemblies 12 is equipped with a series of plates 32 positioned outboard of the stop means 22 and extending lengthwise of the respective assemblies 12. Each such plate 32 is mounted for reciprocating movement relatively to a rear upstanding part 34 of its assembly by means of upper and lower pairs of expansible joints 35 of the lazy tong type. An elongate bar 36 is slidable longitudinally of each assembly 12 and passes through end bushings of the upper or lower pairs of joints 35, and is locked against movement relatively to one such bushing of each joint. A ram 37 acts to shift the bar lengthwise, thus expanding and contracting the joints 35 to reciprocate the plates 32 in a direction transverse of the assemblies 12.

In operation, a bundle of say sixty billets is placed across the rails 14 at the receiving end of the machine and the transport beams 26 commence to advance the billets until they are positioned above the rst pair of comb arm carriers 15 disposed medially of the assemblies 12. At this point, the rams 21 are protracted so that the comb arms pierce the bundle while still in overlapping relation, and the carriers are then shifted away from one another so that the bundle is split into two smaller bundles, as already described.

The rst stop members 22 are raised to hold the bundles apart and the comb arms 16 are retracted while the carriers 15 return to the starting point medially of the assemblies 12.

The transport beams 26 advance the lead bundle to a position above the second pair of carriers 15 and, while the first stop members 22 restrain the trailing bundle of billets, the third pair of stop members 22 are extended eifectively to embrace the lead bundle between them and the first pair of stop members. The second pair of comb arms and carriers then further split the lead bundle into two yet smaller bundles. The second pair of stop members 22 is protracted to restrain the trailing of these bundles while the third pair of stop members is retracted to allow the lead bundle to be advanced to the next combing station where the foregoing operations are repeated. In this manner, the bundles are progressively broken down into smaller bundles until the billets are spaced individually across the rails 14. After the lead bundles have been sufliciently advanced, the trailing bundles are released by an operator controlling the various rams, and receive similar handling.

Thus, to prevent whipping and to assist in parallel billet alignment, I prefer that, during a particular combing operation, the stop members next in advance of, and next preceding the operating comb arms be extended in uppermost position in effect to embrace the ends of the bundle being split. Then, upon completion of the excursion of the carriers 15 towards the assemblies 12, the stop members in alignment with the operating comb arms are extended upwardly through the gap formed by the comb arms in the bundle of billets. The carriers may then be returned to medial position and the comb arms retracted.

The squaring rams 27 are actuated before and after each combing operation so as to shift the plates 32 in an inboard direction to engage and square the billet ends.

To enable the apparatus to handle bundles of different lengths, the assemblies 12 are shiftable laterally towards and away from one another. Actually, this shifting is accomplished merely by moving the carriers 15 to midposition as in FIG. 2 and unlocking the assemblies so that they are free to move along the beams 11 on wheels provided for the purpose, for example. The power means normally used for shifting the carriers, and which extend between the carriers 15 and assemblies 12 are actuated to shift the assemblies towards or away from one another to the positions desired, at which positions they are again locked against movement.

An isolating stop 38 (FIG. 4) is mounted on each of the last pair of stop members 22 and comprises an arm 6 movable into the path of the billets when the respective stop members to which they are secured are raised, and out of the billet path when the stop members are lowered or retracted. Thus, a single billet may be isolated adjacent the delivery end of the machine until its further advance is desired.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, a nal feed mechanism at the delivery end of the rails 14 comprises corresponding generally V-shaped arms 42 which may be rocked in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axes of the rails, and a ram 44 controls the rocking action. Thus, as the lead billet advances beyond the isolating stop 38, it strikes the lead arm of the V and is held until it is desired to allow it to advance. The ram 44 is then extended pivoting the lead arm down and out of the way of the billet, the trailing arm oi the V moving upward and forward to push the billet into the jaws of a pair of inspection wheels 45, for example. Retraction of the ram 44 rocks the arms 42 to move the lead arm back to its initial position t0 block advance of the billets and moves the trailing arm below the level of the rails 14, as shown in FIG. 4.

The various operations described herein may be under the control of an operator, and by way of illustration, I have shown an inspection platform 39 having dual control panels 40 for energizing the various operating rams, all of which are of the double acting type.

As I have stated, the present apparatus may be used to present billets from a bundle, individually for any purpose and I have here shown an inspection station (FIG. 4) including the inspection wheels 45, a delivery arm 46, take-oit conveyor 47 and receiving tray 49.. The billets are fed to the jaws of the wheels 45 which hold them while an inspector on the platform 39 examines them. The jaws of the wheels 45 then deliver the billets to the delivery arm 46 which drops them in the conveyor 47 for delivery to the tray 49.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that I contribute to the art a billet handling apparatus utilizing a multiple combing principle providing positive bundle splitting, and which within several sequential combing operations, affords single billet feed from a bundle of billets in random raveled or scrambled disposition.

I believe that the construction and operation of my novel billet handling apparatus will now be understood and that the advantages of my invention will be fully appreciated by those persons skilled in the art.

I now claim:

l. In apparatus of the class described, spaced support means for supporting thereacross billets to be handled, at least one pair of combing means piercing a bundle 0f billets supported on said support means, means shifting said piercing means longitudinally of said billets while said piercing means are maintained in bundle piercing disposition to split said bundle into smaller bundles, means transporting said smaller bundles in a direction parallel to the length of said support means, and means repeatedly piercing and longitudinally splitting said bundles into progressively smaller bundles as necessary to separate the billets ultimately into single billets.

2. In apparatus of the class described, spaced support means for supporting thereacross billets to be handled, means piercing a bundle of billets supported on said support means at an intermediate zone thereof, means shifting said piercing means from said intermediate zone towards the ends of said billets to split said bundle into smaller bundles, means transporting said smaller bundles in a direction parallel to the length of said support means, and means repeatedly piercing and longitudinally splitting said bundles into progressively smaller bundles to separate the billets ultimately into single billets.

3. In apparatus of the class described, a pair of spaced rails for supporting thereacross billets to.be handled, a series of spaced apart combing means disposed longitudinally of said rails for piercing bundles of billets supported by said rails adjacent said respective combing means to split said respective bundles into smaller bundles, stop means adjacent said rails and movable vertically in timed relation to the action of said combing means to prevent whipping of individual billets due to the combing action, and means transporting said billets longitudinally of said rails to position same for action by said combing means, said combing means being suftcient in number to reduce an initial bundle of billets to individual spaced billets.

4. In apparatus of the class described, a pair of spaced support means for supporting thereacross adjacent their ends billets to be handled, a plurality of pairs of combing means disposed longitudinally between said support means for piercing at an intermediate Zone thereof bundles of billets supported across said support means, means shifting said combing means towards the ends of said billets while same are maintained in bundle piercing attitude to split a pierced bundle into two smaller bundles, and means transporting said bundles longitudinally of said support means for action thereon by succeeding pairs of combing means, said pairs of combing means being sutiicient in number to reduce an initial bundle of billets to individual spaced billets.

5. In apparatus of the class described, spaced support means for supporting thereacross billets to be handled, stop means restraining the ends of said billets against movement longitudinally of said rails, means piercing a bundle of billets supported in said support means to split said bundle into smaller bundles, transport means operable to engage the billets adjacent their ends and to a/dvance them longitudinally of said rails, additional stop means cooperating with one of said aforementioned stop means to restrain one of said smaller bundles against movement longitudinally of said rails, means rendering the remainder of said aforementioned stop means ineffective whereby said smaller bundles are separated from one another, and means repeatedly piercing, restraining and advancing said bundles thus to separate the bundles ultimately into single billets.

6. In apparatus of the class described, a pair of spaced support means for supporting thereacross adjacent their ends billets to be handled, a plurality of pairs of combing means disposed longitudinally between said support means for piercing at an intermediate zone thereof bundles of billets supported across said support means, means shifting said combing means towards the ends of said billets while same are maintained in bundle piercing attitude to split a pierced bundle into two smaller bundles, means operative to transport said bundles longitudinally of said support means for action thereon by succeeding pairs of combing means, stop means associated with each pair of combing means and effective to retain one of the smaller bundles formed by the respective combing means while the other of said smaller bundles is advanced by said transporting means, and means rendering said stop means ineffective to retain said one of the smaller bundles, said pairs of combing means being sufliicent in number to reduce an initial bundle of billets to individual spaced billets.

7. In apparatus of the class described, a pair of spaced elongate members supporting thereacross billets to be handled, a carrier member normally disposed intermediate said elongate members and movable transversely thereof towards one of said elongate members, a second carrier member normally disposed adjacent said first carrier member and movable transversely of said elongate members and towards the other of said members, and a comb arm mounted on each such carrier member for movement therewith and movable relatively thereto to a position piercing a bundle of billets extending across said elongate members.

8. In apparatus of the class described, a pair of spaced elongate members supportingv thereacross billets to be handled, a carrier member normally disposed intermediate said elongate members and movable transversely thereof towards one of said elongate members, a second carrier member normally disposed adjacent said lfirst carrier member and movable transversely of said elongate members and towards the other of said members, a comb arm mounted on each such carrier member for movement therewith and movable relatively thereto to a position piercing a bundle of billets extending across said elongate members, and stop means restraining the ends or billets in said bundle during said transverse movement of said carrier members.

9. In apparatus of the class described, a pair of spaced elongate rails supporting thereacross billets to be handled, means adjusting said rails relatively to one another to enable them to accommodate bundles of billets of different length, pairs of carrier members normally disposed between said rails, the carrier members of each pair being shiftable in opposed directions transversely of said rails, a comb arm mounted on each such carrier member for movement therewith and movable relatively thereto to a position piercing a bundle of billets extending across said rails, ibillet transport means adjacent said rails and adjustable therewith, said transport means being effective to jog and advance billets supported on said rails, and means also adjustable with said rails acting upon the ends of billets supported by said rails in timed relation to the operation of respective pairs of comb arms to square them relatively to one another.

10. In apparatus of the class described, a pair of spaced, elongate stationary rails supporting thereacross billets to be handled, means adjusting said rails transversely relatively to one another to enable them to accommodate bundles of billets of different length; billet combing means comprising pairs of carriers each mounting a comb arm for movement through a central region of a bundle of billets on said rails, means moving the carriers of each pair transversely of said rails to split a bundle of billets thereon into two smaller bundles; and billet conditioning means comprising stop means restraining the ends of said billets of a bundle against longitudinal movement during outward transverse movement of said carriers, transport means effective to jog and advance billets supported on said rails, further stop means adapted to render said transport means ineective relatively to one of said smaller bundles, means projecting and retracting said stop means relatively to effective position in timed relation to the operation of said combing means, and means also operable in timed relation to the operation of said combing means to` square the billet ends in relation to one another.

1l. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said stop means, transport means and squaring means are adjustable transversely with said rails.

12. A method of unraveling and separating a bundle of random disposed billets, comprising: supporting the bundle adjacent its ends, restraining the billet ends against horizontal movement, piercing the bundle intermediate its ends and combing same lengthwise thereof progressively into yet smaller bundles, separating the smaller bundles, and similarly piercing and combing the smaller bundles until the billets are separated ultimately into single billets.

13. A method of unraveling and separating anbundle of random disposed billets, comprising: supporting 'the bundle adjacent its ends, piercing the bundle intermediate its ends and combing same lengthwise thereof progressively into yet smaller bundles, separating the smaller bundles, and similarly piercing and combing the smaller bundles until the billets are separated ultimately into single billets. p n

14. A method of unraveling and separating abundle of random disposed billets, comprising: supporting the bundle adjacent its ends, restraining the billets adjacent their ends against horizontal movement, piercing the bundle adjacent its central region to form a gap therein, extending the gap towards the ends of the bundle to comb same into two smaller bundles restrained adjacent their ends, squaring the ends of said smaller bundles, releasing the restraint on one of said smaller bundles, separating said smaller bundles horizontally, releasing the restraint on the other of said smaller bundles, advancing said bundles horizontally, and progressively repeating the 5 foregoing steps until the bundles are separated ultimately into single billets.

15. Apparatus according to claim 1 further characterized in that means are provided operative in timed relation relatively to the operation of the piercing means 10 for engaging the ends of `said billets and squaring same.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Quinn Nov. 29, Vickers July 10, Griith July 8, Drago Dec. 23, Gewartowski June 27, Helstrorn July 25, Maier Aug. 8, Smejda Sept. 12, 

1. IN APPARATUS OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED, SPACED SUPPORT MEANS FOR SUPPORTING THEREACROSS BILLETS TO BE HANDLED, AT LEAST ONE PAIR OF COMBING MEANS PIERCING A BUNDLE OF BILLETS SUPPORTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS, MEANS SHIFTING SAID PIERCING MEANS LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID BILLETS WHILE SAID PIERCING MEANS ARE MAINTAINED IN BUNDLE PIERCING DISPOSITION TO SPLIT SAID BUNDLE INTO SMALLER BUNDLES, MEANS TRANSPORTING SAID SMALLER BUNDLES IN A DIRECTION PARALLEL TO THE LENGTH OF SAID SUPPORT MEANS, AND MEANS 